France: Anti-fascist demonstrators clash with police after first round of election results roll in

Anti-fascist demonstrators clashed with riot police as they took to the streets of central Paris and Nantes, western France on Sunday (23 April), after the results of the first round of France's presidential election rolled in.

Demonstrators clash with police forces as they demonstrate in ParisThomas Samson/AFP

Final voting figures from the Interior Ministry on Monday (24 April) put Macron, of the En Marche movement, taking 23.75% of the vote, while Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right Front National, took 21.53%. Les Republicans leader Francois Fillon came third at 19.91%, followed by far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of La France insoumise with 19.64%.

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Tear gas floats in the air as demonstrators clash with riot police in ParisJean-Paul Pellisier/ReutersRiot police apprehend a demonstrator during clashes in ParisJean-Paul Pellisier/Reuters

The outcome is a huge defeat for the two centre-right and centre-left groupings that have dominated French politics for 60 years, and also reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as US president.

"It annoys me immensely. I was born here, I grew up here, and I want to leave something for my children, and I don't want to leave extremes for my children," Jimmy Blanche, a Paris native, explained to Reuters. "I think that they will do anything to avoid having Le Pen [...] as president," added student Nelly Valance, who is convinced that French voters would turn to Macron in the next round.

Riot police clash with demonstrators in ParisJean-Paul Pellisier/ReutersA wounded protester lies on the ground during a demonstration called by anti-fascists in ParisThomas Samson/AFPA demonstrator reacts towards riot police during clashes in ParisJean-Paul Pellisier/ReutersPeople march with a banner which translates as 'Not Banker nor Racist' during a demonstration in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/AFPFrench police forces detain demonstrators during clashes in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/AFPPeople run from the protests as anti-fascist demonstrators clash with anti-riot police forces in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/AFPAnti-fascists demonstrate in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/AFPPeople walk past rubbish that was set alight during clashes between anti-fascist demonstrators and riot police in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/AFPProtesters demonstrate on the Place de la Republique in ParisBenjamin Cremel/AFP